Georgia Natural Wonder #55 - Panola Mountain - South River. 619

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Georgia Natural Wonder #55 - Panola Mountain - South River

Located within Panola Mountain State Park, Panola Mountain is the most natural and undisturbed monadnock of exposed granitic rock in the Piedmont biophysiograpic province. Successional plant communities from base rock to oak hickory forest are present here. There are a number of characteristic granite outcrop plants, including granite stonecrop, a rare endemic species.


Official NNL photo.

Location: Rockdale County, GA

Year designated: 1980

Acres: 281

Ownership: State

Panola Mountain

Panola Mountain is a granite monadnock that sits on an area of about 100 acres between Henry and Rockdale Counties in the state of Georgia. Its highest peak stands at 946 feet above the sea level, and it is surrounded by a lush forest with the South River flowing at its feet. It rises 260 feet above the South River.



The South River marks the boundary between Henry/Rockdale counties and DeKalb County, Georgia. The area was for a while home to early settlers who were attracted by the availability of fresh water and terrain that offered a natural defense against invaders. Due to its delicate ecological features, Panola Mountain became a National Natural Landmark in 1980 and has ever since been a popular tourist attraction site for visitors providing kayaking, hiking, and camping experiences to the people.



There are three trails here. One is called the Outcrop trail, very nice trail. 



Great views of some of the local granite outcroppings in the area.



The second is called the Watershed trail. This one is longer and has a chance to see more wildlife. My first time out, I came across a herd of deer, 3 stags and about a dozen does.



Boardwalk and lake views.



The third trail is on the Mountain trail itself and you have to make reservations for that trail, details on the website



Just 15 minutes from Atlanta is a recreational haven for all ages and interests. Visitors can picnic while children work off energy on the playground. The park offers archery, geocaching, orienteering, birding and tree-climbing programs. A paved trail is open for biking, rollerblading, jogging and dog-walking, while forested fitness trails are open for hiking and running, no pets here.



Panola Mountain is a 100-acre granite outcrop similar to Stone Mountain, but smaller and much more pristine. Park visitors will see the outcrop and its rare ecosystem just as Native Americans did centuries ago. Reservations are required for ranger-led hikes that teach about the rare plants and animals found in this habitat.



Panola Mountain State Park is the crown jewel of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, one of only three National Heritage Areas in the state. The park’s unusual natural beauty and intriguing cultural changes are the basis for this special recognition. Over the years, this area has been home to early settlers, immigrant rock cutters, freed slaves and even Trappist monks. Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area is a partnership among the state of Georgia, DeKalb, Henry and Rockdale counties, the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, and numerous communities and public-private partners.


Nearby is the Monastery of the Holy Spirit.

Reservations, Accommodations & Facilities

• 1,635 Acres

• 2 Lakes

• 4 Picnic Shelters

• 1 Event Room (seats 50) — call park to reserve

• Alexander Lake Pavilion

• 5 Primitive Campsites (currently unavailable due to construction)

• Amphitheater

• Nature Center

• Gift Shop

• Playground



Panola Mountain State Park was created in the early 1970’s to protect the delicate ecological features of this 100-acre granite monadnock. The mountain is similar to both Stone Mountain and Heritage Area sister, Arabia Mountain but unlike either, it has never been quarried. Today, the park has expanded to more than 1,600 acres and includes lakes, a former golf course now returned to nature and early settler homesteads. Hikers may explore the park’s watershed and granite outcrop on their own, or they may make reservations to join park rangers for guided hikes onto the restricted-access mountain.



Panola Mountain is a designated a National Natural Landmark, and pets are not allowed on trails in the conservation area. However, the paved Rockdale River/Arabia Mountain PATH Trail is open to leashed dogs and bicycles. This rolling journey takes visitors past two fishing lakes, grassy fields, shaded woods and rock outcrops, over the South River and beyond. Deer, turkey and other wildlife are abundant. Those who ride this trail may join the park’s Muddy Spokes Club.



Fishing, archery, geocaching and tree climbing are available in addition to regular hikes. Picnic pavilions and playgrounds are near the nature center. There is a $5 parking fee or become a Friend of Georgia State Parks and receive an annual parking pass.

The Trails at Panola Mountain State Park

Panola Mountain State Park is immersed in natural beauty. Start your day at the conservation area – accessible by the Highway 155 entrance – and visit the nature center, gift shop, picnic shelters and playground. This area also allows access to the heavily wooded hiking trails. The 0.75-mile Outcrop Trail overlooks a granite outcrop and offers stunning views of Panola Mountain itself.



The 1.25-mile Watershed Trail runs along the edge of a small creek.



Connecting Arabia Mountain, Stonecrest Mall and other stops to Panola Mountain, the 31-mile, paved PATH Foundation trail is perfect for hiking, biking and jogging.





If you’re looking to access the mountain itself, you must reserve a ranger-led hike. During your guided adventure, you’ll learn firsthand about the rare plants and animals found in this unique habitat.



This unusual park near Atlanta was created to protect a 100-acre granite monadnock (mountain) often compared to Stone Mountain and Arabia Mountain. Minimally developed, Panola Mountain shelters rare plants of the Piedmont region. Hikers may explore the parks watershed and granite outcrop on their own, or they may join park staff for guided hikes onto the restricted-access mountain.



Pets are not allowed on most trails. Bicycles are allowed only on the paved PATH trail.

REVIEW OF A GUIDED RANGER HIKE

What a gem of a park and so close to Atlanta, you really have no excuse for not checking this one out. Panola Mountain is another monadnock in the three-part Monadnock Madness. It has so many different things to do here for every age, you could go every weekend and not be bored. Zumba Fitness, Beginners to Intermediate Archery Lessons (good for Zombie preparedness), archery camp, moonlight hikes, tree top excursions, Junior Ranger Day Camp, bike tours, geocaching, fishing, camping! That’s just a few of the many things that Panola Mountain State Park offers.



Remember how fragile the ecosystem is on Arabia Mountain? Panola is even more so and because of that, you can only hike the whole mountain with a ranger. This was the first hiking trip I’ve done that wasn’t self-guided so I didn’t know what to expect. It was so much fun! You get to meet lovely people along the hike and learn and see things you’d probably miss if you were on your own. I even met a fellow Instagram friend on the hike! We didn’t even know it until the very end when we exchanged usernames.



Our guided hike was done with Jeff and he was an absolute blast! There are even reviews about Panola that give specific shoutouts to Jeff and his awesomeness. He keeps a good pace and stops to allow for people to take photographs and ask questions. He is part of Friends of Panola Mountain and you can follow them on Facebook and on Instagram! I recommend that you follow them so that you can be updated with the many events that happen through them. They also love getting photos from your trips to Panola so be sure to send them over!



Panola was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1980 because of its rare ecosystem, value to science and education and because of the condition of the mountain itself. Which is why you can only tackle this beauty with a ranger. Unlike Arabia mountain and Stone Mountain, there has never been a quarry on Panola. It’s completely untouched and protected. Keep it that way, fellow humans!



We learned so many cool things about the surrounding areas of the park but because one of my favorite experiences on this quest was learning these things on the guided hike, I’m only going to show you photos and not explain anything. Ha! So get to the website and find out when the next guided hike is.



So follow Friends of Panola Mountain State Park and call and reserve to do the guided hike at $7 plus $5 parking. 770-389-7801.

Tangent on South River

Class III - 0.5 miles long (GA 81 to Snapping Shoals Creek)



"The South River runs through a narrow wooded valley, skirts some exposed bluffs, and winds along the base of several tall, gumdrop-shaped granite outcroppings that include Panola and Arabia Mountains. Evidence of habitation and development are common along the South River but somewhat surprisingly do not occur in sufficient concentration to spoil the wilderness beauty of the stream.



Despite its urban setting, the river’s shores are exceptionally wooded, even in its upper reaches. Water quality continues to improve. Born in the city streets near the state capitol and Zoo Atlanta, many of the river’s headwater creeks crawl underground through a combined sewage–stormwater system before the river emerges to flow southeast through DeKalb, Rockdale, and Newton Counties on its way into Lake Jackson."



The South is a city river, beginning close to the Atlanta airport and winding through DeKalb and Rockdale Counties before forming the border between Newton and Henry Counties and entering Lake Jackson. Running through metro Atlanta's population center, the South has been ravaged over the years by sewage runoff, heavy siltation due to development, and all of the substances and chemicals that come from roads, parking lots, and people's yards. In many places, you can find the recent high-water mark of the South by looking at the line of trash and debris on the bank. The smell of chlorine from upstream water treatment facilities is not overpowering, but it never quite goes away either.


Surprising white water in at least one or two spots along this river.

Despite the South's problems, conditions on the river have improved drastically since the early 1990's. After 60 miles of the South were declared "extremely polluted" by the EPD in 1991, the city of Atlanta began diverting 26 million gallons of treated wastewater to the Chattahoochee basin (where it originated) from the South. The condition of the river has improved markedly in the past 10 years.



So how's the fishing? Better than you might expect. Largemouth bass are at the top of the food chain, and they appear quite healthy. Redeye bass are native to the South, and used to be caught in the numerous shoal areas that dot the river. Some say that the pollution problems of the 60's, 70's, and 80's wiped them out. GRF would be really interested to find out if redeyes still exist here.


Rockdale River Trail.

A relative newcomer to the lower reaches of the South is the spotted bass. Spots were illegally introduced in Lake Jackson during the 1990's and have started showing up in the South in the stretch of river downstream from the dam below GA Highway 81.



OK I don't think we need a tangent on Lithonia or Stockbridge YET. One more National Natural Landmark to go. We do need a Panola Mountain GNW gal.....


Added two more climbing Gals so we can vote.